Signification
To be arrogant or self-centered.
Contexte culturel
In Finland, 'vaatimattomuus' (modesty) is a core virtue. Bragging is often seen as a sign of insecurity rather than success. The 'Law of Jante' (Jantelaki) is an unspoken rule that you shouldn't think you are better than others. This idiom is a tool for enforcing that rule. Even in business, a leader who is 'täynnä itseään' is often less respected than one who is 'yksi meistä' (one of us). The rise of influencers has created a conflict with traditional Finnish modesty, making this phrase very common in online comments.
It's an insult
Be careful using this directly to someone's face unless you want to start an argument.
Suffixes matter
Always match the possessive suffix to the person you are talking about.
Signification
To be arrogant or self-centered.
It's an insult
Be careful using this directly to someone's face unless you want to start an argument.
Suffixes matter
Always match the possessive suffix to the person you are talking about.
Finnish Modesty
Remember that Finns have a low threshold for what they consider 'being full of oneself'.
Use with 'aivan'
Adding 'aivan' (completely) or 'ihan' (totally) makes the idiom sound more natural and emphatic.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'itse' with the possessive suffix.
Minä en halua olla täynnä ______.
The subject is 'Minä' (I), so the suffix must be '-ni'.
Which sentence is correct?
Select the grammatically correct sentence.
This is the standard form of the idiom with the correct reflexive pronoun and suffix.
Match the response to the situation.
Your friend is bragging about their new expensive watch for 20 minutes.
This is a natural (though blunt) way to comment on their bragging.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Miksi Pekka ei tullut juhliin? B: En tiedä, mutta hän on nykyään niin ______ itseään, ettei hän ehdi nähdä meitä.
The idiom is 'olla täynnä itseään'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Pride vs. Arrogance
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesMinä en halua olla täynnä ______.
The subject is 'Minä' (I), so the suffix must be '-ni'.
Select the grammatically correct sentence.
This is the standard form of the idiom with the correct reflexive pronoun and suffix.
Your friend is bragging about their new expensive watch for 20 minutes.
This is a natural (though blunt) way to comment on their bragging.
A: Miksi Pekka ei tullut juhliin? B: En tiedä, mutta hän on nykyään niin ______ itseään, ettei hän ehdi nähdä meitä.
The idiom is 'olla täynnä itseään'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt is a direct criticism of someone's character, so it is considered blunt, but not vulgar.
Yes, Finnish has no gendered pronouns, so 'hän' and 'itseään' apply to everyone.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but you could say someone is 'nöyryys' (humble) or 'vaatimaton' (modest).
Yes, it's common to use it ironically if you've just done something very successful and want to poke fun at your own ego.
Focus on the long 'ä' sound at the end: IT-seh-aan.
Only informally between colleagues. You wouldn't use it in an official report.
It describes narcissistic behavior, but 'narsisti' is a stronger, more clinical label.
The '-än' is the possessive suffix for the third person, which is required in this idiom.
Yes: 'He ovat täynnä itseään.'
Yes, 'leijua' is the most common slang alternative.
Expressions liées
itsekeskeinen
synonymSelf-centered
ylimielinen
synonymArrogant
nousta hattuun
similarTo go to one's head
leijua
informalTo brag / to hover
itsetietoinen
similarSelf-aware / self-important
